Links
Astronomy Clubs Observational Software News
Astronomical League
The Astronomical League is composed of over two hundred and forty local amateur astronomical societies from all across the United States. These organizations, along with our Members-at-Large, Patrons, and Supporting members form one of the largest amateur astronomical organizations in the world.
Calumet Astronomical Society
The Calumet Astronomical Society, Inc. (CAS) is a not-for-profit corporation founded in 1975, and incorporated in 2000, for the purpose of pursuing the study of astronomy and promoting the education of of astronomy and space science. The CAS membership consists of amateur astronomy enthusiasts from the Northwest Indiana and southern Chicago metropolitan regions.
Chicago Astronomical Society
The Chicago Astronomical Society is the oldest astronomical society in the western hemisphere, started in 1862. To this day, CAS continues to further its mission by maintaining an observatory, offering numerous venues for public outreach, conducting public observing sessions, and hosting monthly meetings and lectures. CAS also puts on two annual festivals each year: the Earth, Wind & Sky Festival and Astrofest.
Fort Wayne Astronomical Society
The FWAS is one of our 'neighbor' clubs base out of Fort Wayne, Indiana educating the Fort Wayne area about Astronomy and related sciences.
Kalamazoo Astronomical Society
The Kalamazoo Astronomical Society is one of our 'neighbor' clubs base out of Kalamazoo, Michigan educating the Kalamazoo area about Astronomy and related sciences.
Kankakee Area Star Gazers
The Kankakee Area Star Gazers is one of our 'neighbor' clubs base out of Bourbonnais, Illinois educating the Kankakee/Bourbonnais area about Astronomy and related sciences.
Miami Valley Astronomical Society
We promote amateur astronomy at every level. The MVAS serves two primary functions. We promote education by bringing astronomy to the public through regular star-gazes at our dark sky sight at John Bryan State Park and provide a forum where members of the MVAS can get together, share ideas on Astronomy subjects.
Naperville Astronomical Association
The Naperville Astronomical Association had its beginnings as the Naperville High School Astronomy Club in the early 1970's. When the building of an observatory and telescope became the students' goal, it became necessary for them to form an organization outside the restrictions of a school sponsored group; in March of 1973 the Naperville Astronomical Association was founded.
Warsaw Astronomical Society
The WAS is one of our 'neighbor' clubs based out of Warsaw, Indiana. Whether a beginner or a long-time astronomy enthusiast, the Warsaw Astronomical Society can provide many opportunities for its members to help them enjoy the many fascinating aspects of amateur astronomy.
Astrobin
A web image hosting site designed by an astrophotographer for astrophotographers. It's also a great place to search for astrophoto's.
Clear Dark Sky
Based on a numerical weather model, Clear Sky Clocks are perhaps the most accurate and the most usable forecasters of astronomical observing conditions for over 1300 observatories and observing sites in North America.
Flinthill Deep Sky Guides
The Flinthill Deep Sky Guides contain 1900+ Observable Deep Sky Objects for Binoculars and Telescopes and are for beginning astronomers to seasoned experts and have been created expressly for Suburban, Near City and Dark Sky viewing sites. The Guides include Stars, Galaxies, Double Stars, Reflection & Emission Nebulae, Star Clusters, Globular Clusters, Planetary Nebulae, Galaxy Clusters and one Pulsar.
Heavens Above
If you're interested in satellites or astronomy, you've come to the right place! Our aim is to provide you with all the information you need to observe satellites such as the International Space Station and the Space Shuttle, spectacular events such as the dazzlingly bright flares from Iridium satellites as well as a wealth of other spaceflight and astronomical information.
Focusing Mask
Bahtinov Focusing Mask Generator
How to use a Bahtinov Focusing Mask
Globe at Night/Nightwise
Individuals and students can help measure the quality of the night sky during one of five GLOBE at Night (GaN) sessions. GaN Six Easy Star Hunting Steps
Light Pollution
A map of light pollution in our area from Google Earth.
Meteor Showers Online
Explanation of what is a meteor shower, calendar of meteor showers and information on how to view them.
Observing Sites
A list of dark sky sites, categorized by states and provinces.
Moon Phases
US Naval Observatory exact dates and times of the phases of the moon, including definitions and examples.
Photo's of galaxies
This website contains photos of the galaxies.
Photographic Moon Book
This is a Lunar reference book created by Alan Chu. It contains over 200 images and illustrations in 184 pages.
Skymaps
To help find your way around the night sky, Skymaps.com makes available for free* each month The Evening Sky Map -- a 2-page monthly guide to the night skies of the northern and southern hemispheres. Each issue contains a detailed sky map, a monthly sky calendar, and a descriptive list of the best objects to see with binoculars, a telescope, or using just your eyes.
Space Archive
This site contains many useful resources for the active observer including satellite launch time, timing radio stations and conversion tools.
TriAtlas
JR's web site on Deep Astronomy, up in the top right he has a link to his TriAtlas Project. This is a Deep Sky Atlas that you can down load and print and it's free! There are 3 different versions A=25 pages 9th Mag, B=107 pages 11th Mag and C=570 pages 12.5 Mag.
Transit of Venus
Your guide to instructions for safe viewing; interactive education, hands-on activities as well as other information relating to the transit of Venus across the sun.
Uncle Al's Starwheels
A guide to creating your own star wheel (Planisphere/Starmap)/
Weather
Astronomy stargazing forecast from AccuWeather.
Your Sky
Your Sky, the interactive planetarium of the Web. You can produce maps in the forms described below for any time and date, viewpoint, and observing location. If you enter the orbital elements of an asteroid or comet, Your Sky will compute its current position and plot it on the map.
Beginners Guide to Astrophotography
A Quick & Easy Tutorial Of How To Take DSLR Astro Photography.
How to Photograph the Milky Way
We Break Down The Techniques & Settings To Shoot Epic Milky Way Shots.
GMT-UCT
Greenwich Mean Time - Universal Coordinated Time (World Wide time standard)
US Time
US Time from the National Bureau of Standards.
Time Now
Time, weather and other information for sight impaired individuals.
Astronomical Software
Links or all sorts of freeware, shareware and demo Astronomical Software.
CNebulaX
JR's web site on Deep Astronomy, up in the top right he has a link to his CNebulaX Project. This is a Deep Sky it's freeware!
Registax
Registax is free graphics software used by many amateur astronomers to process digital images. The software can align frames, adjust color contrast and stack images.
Virtual Moon Atlas
Virtual Moon Atlas is a free Moon atlas software program. This software contains a wealth of information on lunar features including sizes, ages and historical information.
WorldWide Telescope
The WorldWide Telescope (WWT) is a Web 2.0 visualization software environment that enables your computer to function as a virtual telescope—bringing together imagery from the best ground and space-based telescopes in the world for a seamless exploration of the universe.
Armchair Planet Hunting
Don't have to be a professional to help in the search for new planets. You too can discover planets through the Internet Astronomy Project Systemic.
Astronomy Links
This site is a FREE and NON-COMMERCIAL collection of astronomy links. It contains a large number of beginner, science and amateur astronomy links.
Astronomy Picture of the Day
Looking for pictures of your favorite astronomical object? The APOD archive contains the largest collection of annotated astronomical images on the internet. Each day and new image is added so check back often.
Eyes on the Sky
Very informative video clips on Astronomy. Done by a member of the Kankakee club.
NASA Solar Simulator
Checkout the view of any object in the solar system, from any object in the solar system. Includes the Sun, planets, moons and even spacecraft. Request the view for any date and time.
NASA TV
Watch NASA TV over the web. See live space walks, NASA news conferences NASA educational programs, etc...
Night Sky Network
The Night Sky Network is a nationwide coalition of astronomy clubs bringing the science and inspiration of NASA's missions to the public.
Scale of the Universe
Interesting animation that helps put our size into perspective. Move the slider back and forth to zoom in and out.
SETI @ Home
SETI, or the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, is a scientific effort seeking to determine if there is intelligent life outside Earth. SETI researchers use many methods. One popular method, radio SETI, listens for artificial radio signals coming from other stars. SETI@home is a radio SETI project that lets anyone with a computer and an Internet connection participate.
Science Daily
Source for the latest astronomy research news.
Space Daily
This site contains news articles about current events in astronomy from around the world.
Stardate Magazine
StarDate is a non-profit publication of The University of Texas at Austin McDonald Observatory that contains skywatching tips, astronomy news and features, astronomy images, and sky charts. Our web site provides additional content including audio clips of our StarDate radio program, the longest-running national radio science feature in the country.
Telescope Simulator
An interactive Telescope Simulator and Telescope Comparison to simulate a view through telescopes and eyepieces and see how they work together to produce a view through a real telescope.
DIY Projects:
Tripod Spreader
White Light Solar Filter
Add a clock drive to a Meade EQ80 mount
Meeting Presentations:
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